Employee/Employer Relations

Secret Ballot Paradox

Congressional Democrats affirm secret ballot union elections for Mexico, but support Card Check for US workers. A paradox? I think so. Here's the story...

In 2001, a group of 16 Senators and Congressional Representatives signed a letter, authored by Rep. George Miller (D-CA), encouraging the use of secret ballots in union elections in Mexico. Here is a direct quote from that letter:

We understand that the secret ballot is allowed for, but not required, by Mexican labor law. However, we feel the secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they might not otherwise choose.

This affirmation of secret ballot voting certainly seems diametrically opposed to the union election scheme proposed by Card Check, yet, of the 16 who signed the letter to Mexico in 2001, 12 signed on as co-sponsors to Card Check (H.R. 800). The other 4 are no longer in Congress. Representative Miller was actually the lead sponsor of the House Card Check Bill.